IGN India's 10 free Android games you should play

Free to play is here to stay.

By Karan Bhasin

There are plenty of free mobile games to be found. A lot of them wind up being ridden with micro-transactions, making them unplayable. That isn’t to say that there aren’t any good free games out there, there are several. We take a look at some of the more recent free to play games available on Android that are worth your attention.

Traffic Rider

Traffic Rider is a two-wheeler driving game. At its core this game is just another endless driving game but where it really stands out is in giving you the sense of speed as you soar down the roads. You can really appreciate the difference in riding a slower motorcycle to a faster one in this game. Coupled with good graphics and unobtrusive micro-transactions, Traffic Rider is one free game you should download.

Subterfuge

Subterfuge is one of the most unique games I’ve ever played, on any platform. This game takes the real in real time strategy rather literally, with the average match lasting around a week. The game pits players against one another as they try and win either by military might or getting enough points. Players can order around their fleet of submarines, with actions taking upwards of a day to complete. You can set actions in the future and set timed and reactive actions as well, making this a very strategic game. There’s also a very big social element as players can form shaky alliances as they try and outwit each other.

Sage Solitaire

Sage Solitaire is an excellent puzzle game that successfully merges a couple of sub-genres of card games. A solitaire style game where your goal is to finish of your cards by forming poker like sequences, a simple concept that can lead to some tricky playthroughs. The game is perfect for short pick up and play sessions. All game modes apart from the basic one need to be paid for, though the basic game is free and offers a fun enough experience to be worth having around.

Horizon Chase - World Tour

Horizon Chase pays homage to the classic driving game, Outrun. The game is a retro racer that takes you to multiple locations around the globe and lets you race around them in several different vehicles, with noticeably different stats. While the content available in the free version is sorely limited, it’ll go a long way in convincing you to shell out some money for the full unlock. Even if it doesn’t, you get to relive a classic gaming experience for free.

To check out Horizon Chase - World Tour on the Google Play Store, click here.

Pocket Mortys

Pocket Mortys is a Pokémon clone set in the Rick & Morty universe. The game does a good job of capturing the shows humour and setting, while throwing in some serviceable gameplay to hold the bundle together. Though it may be a game that you get tired of before the end, it’s an absolute must play for any fan of the TV show.

Soda Dungeon

Soda Dungeon is a base building and party management game. You run a Soda Bar that attracts customers who pay for their soda by going on quests for you. You decide which classes to include in your party, with more opening up as you upgrade your Soda Bar. You’re rewarded with equipment and gold based on how well your adventurers do. It’s a rather fun game to spend some time with and it’s well worth the price of free.

Splash Cars

Splash Cars is an artistic driving game that can serve as a fun distraction for a few minutes every now and then. In the game you drive around a colorless level, leaving trails of color behind you as you drive. Your objective is to color up as much of the level as you can, while avoiding the police, who much prefer seeing the world in black and white. You’ll often have to wait for a timer to tick away to continue playing, which is a minor negative, but for something best enjoyed in 5 minute bursts, it isn’t that much of a hindrance.

Rayman Adventures

At the low, low price of free, Rayman Adventures is an absolute bargain. The game is a side scrolling platformer with gorgeous levels. The missions are fairly straightforward in nature, requiring you to either find a certain number of secrets, defeat a certain number of enemies or finish within a specific time zone. You can collect pets along the way, which can provide you with various bonuses that make it easier to achieve your objective. It’s a very fun game and could very well be a mainstay on your phone.

Dash Quest

Dash Quest successfully blends together the endless and RPG genres. Many games have attempted that mix in the past but few have done it as well as Dash Quest. The gameplay mechanics keep the base experience fun, even if they aren’t the best. Where the game really shines though is in the implementation of its loot and skills systems. There are a lot of different ways you can set up your character as you attempt to survive, and make it all the way to the end in a single run. It’s a fun and challenging game, available for free.

The Greedy Cave

The Greedy Cave is a very enjoyable rogue-like. The game places you in the shoes of an adventurer as you make your way through the titular cave, collecting loot, leveling up and growing stronger as you plunge further and further in. Each time you die, any non-gold gear is lost and you start all over again from the start. Every 20 or so levels you get a checkpoint though, making this game much less of a task and a lot of fun. The combat is turn based, but completely straightforward and doesn’t require much more than basic strategy. Loot is a big part of rogue-likes and the Greedy Cave gets loot very right, making this a must play for any fan of the genre.